NHRA and NOPI Teaming up...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 1997
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From: West Islip, Long Island NY
NHRA and NOPI Teaming up...
For 2008 I've heard NHRA and NOPI are joining. The events will be all import again and they will follow the NHRA rules/classes and maybe offer more events on the east coast.
Anyone hear of this yet?
Anthony
Anyone hear of this yet?
Anthony
'Tuna'
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,637
Likes: 3
From: Miami,Fl,USA
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/cont...5333&zoneid=10
10/31/2007
At the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NHRA announced that beginning in 2008, the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body will combine forces with NOPI Motorsports to sanction sport compact drag racing events at NOPI events. The new sport compact race series will be called NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA.
“This is a logical step for sport compact drag racing,” said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president-sales & marketing. “Bringing together NHRA and its 50-plus years of experience in conducting competitive drag racing events and NOPI’s lifestyle activities and events results in one series that can meet the needs of all the fans, sponsors, and the entire racing community.”
As part of the sanctioning agreement, NOPI drag racing events held at NHRA member tracks will be conducted under NHRA rules. Competition and technical matters onsite at these events will be overseen by NHRA representatives. NHRA will declare a winner at those events and keep points toward NOPI championships in each category. At NOPI Drag Racing Series events held at non-NHRA member tracks, NHRA will not sanction nor will points be accumulated toward championships.
NOPI Motorsports and NHRA will develop classes to ensure that all cars that competed in the NHRA Xplod Drag Racing Series in 2007 will have a place to race in the NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA in 2008.
“NHRA’s mission is to preserve and promote the sport of drag racing,” said Darcy. “Working with NOPI Motorsports on sport compact racing is intended to further that mission.”
“This is an exciting time for NOPI Motorsports and the whole NOPI family,” said Mike Meyers, president, NOPI Motorsports. “We have worked extremely hard over the years to develop a strong racing series for our racers, fans, and sponsors. This partnership with NHRA is going to allow us to have the best racing series ever imagined. I’m personally excited to be part of racing history, which is exactly what’s happening with the NOPI Motorsports and NHRA partnership.”
The 2008 schedule for the NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA will be announced at a later date.
Founded in 1966, NOPI (Number One Parts Inc.) is one of the country’s leading parts distributors in the $2.3 billion market for sport compact automobile accessories. The NDRA is the hottest and most innovative sport compact drag racing series in the United States today. The country’s top drag racers come together for 10 races each year and compete for more than $2.5 million and a $140,000 in year-end prize money. At each NDRA event, sport compact fans can spend the entire day and most of the evening at the track enjoying incredible drag racing action, car shows, swimsuit competitions, burnout contests, and concerts with some of hottest names in entertainment.
10/31/2007
At the 2007 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NHRA announced that beginning in 2008, the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning body will combine forces with NOPI Motorsports to sanction sport compact drag racing events at NOPI events. The new sport compact race series will be called NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA.
“This is a logical step for sport compact drag racing,” said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president-sales & marketing. “Bringing together NHRA and its 50-plus years of experience in conducting competitive drag racing events and NOPI’s lifestyle activities and events results in one series that can meet the needs of all the fans, sponsors, and the entire racing community.”
As part of the sanctioning agreement, NOPI drag racing events held at NHRA member tracks will be conducted under NHRA rules. Competition and technical matters onsite at these events will be overseen by NHRA representatives. NHRA will declare a winner at those events and keep points toward NOPI championships in each category. At NOPI Drag Racing Series events held at non-NHRA member tracks, NHRA will not sanction nor will points be accumulated toward championships.
NOPI Motorsports and NHRA will develop classes to ensure that all cars that competed in the NHRA Xplod Drag Racing Series in 2007 will have a place to race in the NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA in 2008.
“NHRA’s mission is to preserve and promote the sport of drag racing,” said Darcy. “Working with NOPI Motorsports on sport compact racing is intended to further that mission.”
“This is an exciting time for NOPI Motorsports and the whole NOPI family,” said Mike Meyers, president, NOPI Motorsports. “We have worked extremely hard over the years to develop a strong racing series for our racers, fans, and sponsors. This partnership with NHRA is going to allow us to have the best racing series ever imagined. I’m personally excited to be part of racing history, which is exactly what’s happening with the NOPI Motorsports and NHRA partnership.”
The 2008 schedule for the NOPI Drag Racing Series sanctioned by NHRA will be announced at a later date.
Founded in 1966, NOPI (Number One Parts Inc.) is one of the country’s leading parts distributors in the $2.3 billion market for sport compact automobile accessories. The NDRA is the hottest and most innovative sport compact drag racing series in the United States today. The country’s top drag racers come together for 10 races each year and compete for more than $2.5 million and a $140,000 in year-end prize money. At each NDRA event, sport compact fans can spend the entire day and most of the evening at the track enjoying incredible drag racing action, car shows, swimsuit competitions, burnout contests, and concerts with some of hottest names in entertainment.
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: bayamon pr, orlando fl, paterson nj
yes indeed it was anunced today here @ SEMA NHRA + NOPI merge is gona take this thing of ours to the next level 
i hope to see the NEW TRAVIESO out there and everybody else in this forum giving the fans what they really wanna see *** dragers vs rwd rotaries praaaaaa
i hope to see the NEW TRAVIESO out there and everybody else in this forum giving the fans what they really wanna see *** dragers vs rwd rotaries praaaaaa
Good Good news
awesome news......... I imagine they're working on making classes right now.
I would think that the rotary guys need to jump in there and make sure things are fair before everything is set in stone.
I would think that the rotary guys need to jump in there and make sure things are fair before everything is set in stone.
I showed the announcement to Bret Kepner from ESPN's INSIDE DRAG RACING. He had the following to say.
The NHRA Sport Compact series has been a total disaster for several seasons and, rather than dump the whole program, they sold it to NOPI which, at this point, assures the few remaining NHRA SC competitors of a place to race. That's why this statement is actually fairly important:
“NHRA’s mission is to preserve and promote the sport of drag racing,” said Darcy. “Working with NOPI Motorsports on sport compact racing is intended to further that mission.”
If nothing else, it shows that NHRA didn't want to leave people out in the cold which is actually quite admirable. They could have easily said, "See ya!".
The fact that they're going to get NOPI to add the few NHRA classes which weren't already available at NOPI events is a nice gesture by NOPI but, quite frankly, it's not going to make much of a dent in NOPI's car count. It will, however, allow NOPI to move into a handful of NHRA-only markets to which they had no previous access. The four largest of those would be Englishtown, Atco, Pomona and Fontana.
It's also important to remember that NOPI lost Sony at the end of '06 to the NHRA SC series. Gotta be some sweet revenge there!
While NIRA hasn't been around since NHRA bought 'em out in '01, BOTI (Battle of the Imports) is still around with an eight-race series although their class structure is drastically different than that of NOPI/NHRA.
It's really a great deal for the racers, NHRA and NOPI. NHRA gets out of a nightmare intact, NOPI gets the whole enchilada and becomes the Gorilla of SC racing and the racers get a bigger series with the possibility of larger sponsorship, better purses and more events.
I posted the video of Brad Personnett's interview and here is Bret's reply.
The NHRA Sport Compact series has been a total disaster for several seasons and, rather than dump the whole program, they sold it to NOPI which, at this point, assures the few remaining NHRA SC competitors of a place to race. That's why this statement is actually fairly important:
“NHRA’s mission is to preserve and promote the sport of drag racing,” said Darcy. “Working with NOPI Motorsports on sport compact racing is intended to further that mission.”
If nothing else, it shows that NHRA didn't want to leave people out in the cold which is actually quite admirable. They could have easily said, "See ya!".
The fact that they're going to get NOPI to add the few NHRA classes which weren't already available at NOPI events is a nice gesture by NOPI but, quite frankly, it's not going to make much of a dent in NOPI's car count. It will, however, allow NOPI to move into a handful of NHRA-only markets to which they had no previous access. The four largest of those would be Englishtown, Atco, Pomona and Fontana.
It's also important to remember that NOPI lost Sony at the end of '06 to the NHRA SC series. Gotta be some sweet revenge there!
While NIRA hasn't been around since NHRA bought 'em out in '01, BOTI (Battle of the Imports) is still around with an eight-race series although their class structure is drastically different than that of NOPI/NHRA.
It's really a great deal for the racers, NHRA and NOPI. NHRA gets out of a nightmare intact, NOPI gets the whole enchilada and becomes the Gorilla of SC racing and the racers get a bigger series with the possibility of larger sponsorship, better purses and more events.
I posted the video of Brad Personnett's interview and here is Bret's reply.
Strong words from Brad, indeed. However, he had planned to leave the NHRA SC RWD deal in September after he WON the Outlaw 10.5 class at the ADRL Dragstock event in Rockingham, NC, in September.
It was monumental; against the quickest and fastest 10.5 cars on the planet, Personnett's Scion made fools of all of 'em running 4.30s at over 170 mph....quicker than Lynch, Hill, or any of 'em while receiving no weight break.
After racing in front of an honest 12,000 fans, Personnett told me both on and off camera that he was done with SC RWD and would race ADRL 10.5 from then on.
He went to the ADRL Dallas race and ran 4.31/172 before redlighting in the semis. In the interest of fairness, I'll point out that Mike Hill went 4.26 while winning but Personett is still more than competitive.
With Personett gone, the NHRA SC RWD class had two entries, only one of which was willing to travel the entire series. Not good.
By the way, Yugo (the guy doing the interview) is a riot. I have a blast with him on the road.
It was monumental; against the quickest and fastest 10.5 cars on the planet, Personnett's Scion made fools of all of 'em running 4.30s at over 170 mph....quicker than Lynch, Hill, or any of 'em while receiving no weight break.
After racing in front of an honest 12,000 fans, Personnett told me both on and off camera that he was done with SC RWD and would race ADRL 10.5 from then on.
He went to the ADRL Dallas race and ran 4.31/172 before redlighting in the semis. In the interest of fairness, I'll point out that Mike Hill went 4.26 while winning but Personett is still more than competitive.
With Personett gone, the NHRA SC RWD class had two entries, only one of which was willing to travel the entire series. Not good.
By the way, Yugo (the guy doing the interview) is a riot. I have a blast with him on the road.
Trending Topics
Yikes! Hey, E...late news:
Walking the aisles at the SEMA Show, the Agent hears that Brad Personett, who earlier announced that he would be leaving NHRA Sport Compact racing, will not be driving a Toyota Scion tC next season and will not be driving for Titan Motorsports.
Personett will be moving into a Pro Mod for 2008, but no word yet on the car or team. After taking the Scion to the ADRL’s Dragstock IV in Rockingham, changing tires and winning the Extreme 10.5 class, guess he liked what he saw.
Walking the aisles at the SEMA Show, the Agent hears that Brad Personett, who earlier announced that he would be leaving NHRA Sport Compact racing, will not be driving a Toyota Scion tC next season and will not be driving for Titan Motorsports.
Personett will be moving into a Pro Mod for 2008, but no word yet on the car or team. After taking the Scion to the ADRL’s Dragstock IV in Rockingham, changing tires and winning the Extreme 10.5 class, guess he liked what he saw.
740 hp @ 28 psi
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From: MIAMI
Sweet!!!!!!!!!
IRS Champion
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,038
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From: NY
It's not a merger. It's NHRA way of getting out of sport compact racing..
In a friendly way..
There's a new organization being formed right now called SCDA.
It's basically racers sticking together so that there voice is heard in drag racing.
They will either all race together or not at all.
Now's the time to do something to support our sport.
Ron Bergenholtz is putting it together.
Many sponser's do not want to be associated with NOPI because it's not a family envirnoment because of the bikini contests/foam pits/ drifting/etc.
So unless NOPI want's to change their format and focus entirely on drag racing member's of the SCDA won't race their series.
In a friendly way..
There's a new organization being formed right now called SCDA.
It's basically racers sticking together so that there voice is heard in drag racing.
They will either all race together or not at all.
Now's the time to do something to support our sport.
Ron Bergenholtz is putting it together.
Many sponser's do not want to be associated with NOPI because it's not a family envirnoment because of the bikini contests/foam pits/ drifting/etc.
So unless NOPI want's to change their format and focus entirely on drag racing member's of the SCDA won't race their series.
Will work for horsepower
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, MO
I just want to see real racing were the competitors can afford to make the races and has a chance to break even. Also if i want to see t&a there are places closer and cheaper with no bikinis!
'Tuna'
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,637
Likes: 3
From: Miami,Fl,USA
The Status of Sport Compact Drag Racing
For those that are serious and care about the future of import dragracing and the racers themselves should have a read below.
Quoted from Ron Bergenholtz
I cannot help but notice that many people have been wondering why Sport Compact Drag Racing has remained stagnant or extremely slow in its growth as far as car counts as well as spectator counts. The season has been busy for me but I have been able to make plans as well as coordinate certain steps to solve such immediate issues. I will tell you this though that to solve such issues will take time, meetings with key individuals and or entities as well as a cooperative activity within the Sport Compact Drag market. This includes racers, the NHRA, BOTI, IDRC, NOPI, racetracks, manufacturers, magazine personnel, internet forums and websites and a host of other entities that will spur growth in the Sport Compact Drag Market. The NHRA has always been blamed for this stagnant and slow growth but they cannot do this all alone. So the first step that we have engineered to solve this issue of growth is the formation of the SCDA (Sport Compact Drivers Association). We just launched it in its most infant stages at NHRA's Las Vegas event.
The SCDA was formed to create an organized unit of Sport Compact Drivers as well as team owners. This has been on the table and discussed for over three years and finally came into reality this year. The main goal to date of the SCDA is to promote and grow the sport of Sport Compact Drag Racing. All current member drivers and team owners are organized together to have meetings to share ideas to actively as a whole promote the Sport Compact Drag Industry. We are working with a number of key entities to solve the issues that have hindered the growth of Sport Compact Drag. A plan is already in place and many of the steps that have been taken are already bearing positive and fruitful results. Again, it will take time to solve these growth issues as well as an ongoing active role of all key entities. The main idea at hand, is that the members of the SCDA have a passion for Sport Compact Drag and are doing whatever it takes to grow the sport we love and have it flourish for years to come in the future.
Historic SCDA Meeting at SEMA 11-01-07
Considering the importance of the events at SEMA in regards to Sport Compact Drag racing, it seems appropriate for this to have its own post.
--------
Out of all of my years in sport compact drag racing and the numerous attempts to bring all sport compact drag racers together, the 4pm SCDA meeting at SEMA has proven to be the most significant and unifying sport compact event among the racers and team owners. About 30-40 sport compact racers and team owners from the grass-roots level all the way to the pro's attended the meeting.
Many concerns and issues were discussed but more importantly, a unification of all sport compact drag racers was established. I wish all of us racers were there but with the numbers that attended it is safe to say that we were all very well represented. Ron being the guy that he is and how he feels about our sport said that there was much comradery in the room and the meeting gave many, "goose bumps". The meeting ended with all attending putting their hands in the center of a circle with a strong, 3-2-1 count down to "TEAM" ....Team SCDA.
All of us are strong and have influence when we stand together. This meeting is one the first important steps. At the meeting, all racers attended have all took the stand that where ever we race, we will officially and exclusively all race for only 1 sanctioning body. This includes all pros, sportsman and other grass-roots racers. By doing this, we the racers and team owners can have more influence on classes, rules and how our sport compact drag industry is directed. I know many are talking about Nopi but there are also other avenues including Battle which will be considered. Hopefully, within two weeks, working with all the racers and their input, The SCDA should be able to have more direction on what we will make our official sport compact drag racing sanctioning body.
Don't worry about what has become of NHRA Sport Compact. If this meeting has proven anything, it has shown that everything will be just fine if we stick together. I encourage everyone who did not attend to contact their piers who did, and ask about the details.
Ron, the SCDA "quarterback", has stressed that if anyone has any input, suggestions or has other ways to participate with SCDA, contact him at teambergenholtz@aol.com.
Ed Bergenholtz
ebergenholtz@aol.com
Team SCDA
Quoted from Ron Bergenholtz
I cannot help but notice that many people have been wondering why Sport Compact Drag Racing has remained stagnant or extremely slow in its growth as far as car counts as well as spectator counts. The season has been busy for me but I have been able to make plans as well as coordinate certain steps to solve such immediate issues. I will tell you this though that to solve such issues will take time, meetings with key individuals and or entities as well as a cooperative activity within the Sport Compact Drag market. This includes racers, the NHRA, BOTI, IDRC, NOPI, racetracks, manufacturers, magazine personnel, internet forums and websites and a host of other entities that will spur growth in the Sport Compact Drag Market. The NHRA has always been blamed for this stagnant and slow growth but they cannot do this all alone. So the first step that we have engineered to solve this issue of growth is the formation of the SCDA (Sport Compact Drivers Association). We just launched it in its most infant stages at NHRA's Las Vegas event.
The SCDA was formed to create an organized unit of Sport Compact Drivers as well as team owners. This has been on the table and discussed for over three years and finally came into reality this year. The main goal to date of the SCDA is to promote and grow the sport of Sport Compact Drag Racing. All current member drivers and team owners are organized together to have meetings to share ideas to actively as a whole promote the Sport Compact Drag Industry. We are working with a number of key entities to solve the issues that have hindered the growth of Sport Compact Drag. A plan is already in place and many of the steps that have been taken are already bearing positive and fruitful results. Again, it will take time to solve these growth issues as well as an ongoing active role of all key entities. The main idea at hand, is that the members of the SCDA have a passion for Sport Compact Drag and are doing whatever it takes to grow the sport we love and have it flourish for years to come in the future.
Historic SCDA Meeting at SEMA 11-01-07
Considering the importance of the events at SEMA in regards to Sport Compact Drag racing, it seems appropriate for this to have its own post.
--------
Out of all of my years in sport compact drag racing and the numerous attempts to bring all sport compact drag racers together, the 4pm SCDA meeting at SEMA has proven to be the most significant and unifying sport compact event among the racers and team owners. About 30-40 sport compact racers and team owners from the grass-roots level all the way to the pro's attended the meeting.
Many concerns and issues were discussed but more importantly, a unification of all sport compact drag racers was established. I wish all of us racers were there but with the numbers that attended it is safe to say that we were all very well represented. Ron being the guy that he is and how he feels about our sport said that there was much comradery in the room and the meeting gave many, "goose bumps". The meeting ended with all attending putting their hands in the center of a circle with a strong, 3-2-1 count down to "TEAM" ....Team SCDA.
All of us are strong and have influence when we stand together. This meeting is one the first important steps. At the meeting, all racers attended have all took the stand that where ever we race, we will officially and exclusively all race for only 1 sanctioning body. This includes all pros, sportsman and other grass-roots racers. By doing this, we the racers and team owners can have more influence on classes, rules and how our sport compact drag industry is directed. I know many are talking about Nopi but there are also other avenues including Battle which will be considered. Hopefully, within two weeks, working with all the racers and their input, The SCDA should be able to have more direction on what we will make our official sport compact drag racing sanctioning body.
Don't worry about what has become of NHRA Sport Compact. If this meeting has proven anything, it has shown that everything will be just fine if we stick together. I encourage everyone who did not attend to contact their piers who did, and ask about the details.
Ron, the SCDA "quarterback", has stressed that if anyone has any input, suggestions or has other ways to participate with SCDA, contact him at teambergenholtz@aol.com.
Ed Bergenholtz
ebergenholtz@aol.com
Team SCDA
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland USA
Scda
As a memeber of the SCDA i am very excited about what is going on with Import Drag Racing. I am looking at this whole situation as a new begining. We have a chance to basically start from scratch.
Whatever our organization chooses i hope this time everyone who sits on the forums talking about how much they love racing comes to the track and watches it or finishes there cars and shows up even if its not the fastest. I personally will help anyone that show up the track in any class that runs a mazda piston or rotary. If people came out to support us, sactioning bodies would not have to put half naked chics in foam pits to sell tickets to people that do not even know what import racing is.
The ultimate question I have that I cannot seem to answer on my own that I would like to pose to the spectators is since you do not want naked chics in foam pits and you want racing why are the stands empty?
What can the racers do to make it fun for the spectators?
And dont respond with put a rotary in my car
Dee Karagiannis
Whatever our organization chooses i hope this time everyone who sits on the forums talking about how much they love racing comes to the track and watches it or finishes there cars and shows up even if its not the fastest. I personally will help anyone that show up the track in any class that runs a mazda piston or rotary. If people came out to support us, sactioning bodies would not have to put half naked chics in foam pits to sell tickets to people that do not even know what import racing is.
The ultimate question I have that I cannot seem to answer on my own that I would like to pose to the spectators is since you do not want naked chics in foam pits and you want racing why are the stands empty?
What can the racers do to make it fun for the spectators?
And dont respond with put a rotary in my car
Dee Karagiannis
Last edited by rotor_dee; Nov 7, 2007 at 09:42 AM.
Rotary Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 863
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From: North Carolina
Dee
I would say the biggest thing is competitive racing. I have yet to see more than a handful of races that are within even 4-5 car lengths.
With breaking, poor driving, and teams that have HUGE budgets compared to smaller teams it makes the races almost a joke.
There is very little class balance. There is one or two cars in each class that win and runner up every race. That isnt exciting.
I would say the biggest thing is competitive racing. I have yet to see more than a handful of races that are within even 4-5 car lengths.
With breaking, poor driving, and teams that have HUGE budgets compared to smaller teams it makes the races almost a joke.
There is very little class balance. There is one or two cars in each class that win and runner up every race. That isnt exciting.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland USA
I am not tryin to attack you LT1Rx7 because i agree close races are what everyone wants and i can say that this year was the best for close racing in the majority of the classes except Pro that has 2 cars. And we are striving to make improvements in that area by helping each other out. This is why I would personally like to identify who will be showin up next year in what classes with a mazda so i can ensure i can help them be competitive.
But with this said wich NHRA races did you spectate at? I know being an old buddy from 75/80 you would come say hello and i do not remember seeing you?
But with this said wich NHRA races did you spectate at? I know being an old buddy from 75/80 you would come say hello and i do not remember seeing you?
Will work for horsepower
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,865
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, MO
I meet you in St Louis a few years ago and you were one friendly guy. Abel was even friendly but hes a very intense guy when hes trying to get set up to run. I try to go to events when close enough even houston and dallas but the expense has gotten to me when i cant find people to share the cost with. One problem i have seen with getting the locals to show up is they have cars but cant race or compete with the pros, they use to race and bring there buds to fill the stands. Maybe a class fitting the slower cars would help. I mean its there shot at the big time. Then they wouldnt get board and want to see the tarts in bikinis. Anyway i hope it goes well and i will go as often as i can.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland USA
Thanks for the input Busted7. There are many sportsman classes out there to compete in. I know sometimes "Experienced Racers" will end up in these classes and tend to walk away with it but if they are the only ones there nothing will be done about it.
If everyone that wanted to race showed up for that class the true sportsman would be the majority and could help mold the class.
Also Busted thanks for coming out and supporting us I hope we get back to ST Louis soon.
If everyone that wanted to race showed up for that class the true sportsman would be the majority and could help mold the class.
Also Busted thanks for coming out and supporting us I hope we get back to ST Louis soon.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, Maryland USA
Another Idea
What if as a Mazda Racer i could organize a special discount on tickets for anyone that drives a mazda to the track.
For example:
If the Ticket Price is $25 any one who drives a mazda gets in for 15$ and maybe we could have a mazda tent like the scion guys do with food and refreshments etc etc?
For example:
If the Ticket Price is $25 any one who drives a mazda gets in for 15$ and maybe we could have a mazda tent like the scion guys do with food and refreshments etc etc?